***Disclaimer: I do not own Beauty and the Beast or its characters. I am just borrowing them for non-profit fanfiction. Rightful credit goes to Disney.***

"Maybe..." The Beast was really having trouble speaking now. While the enchantress gave him strength enough to say what needed to be said, he did overexert himself a bit. "I...should have...chosen...differently."

"Beast!" Belle was shocked at this. "Why...how could you say such a thing?"

"I said before...you shouldn't feel...obligated. She...said...you'd...have to help...me...in order for...me...to...survive this."

"I would have tried to nurse you back to health either way!" Belle was near tears thinking that he thought his choice was any kind of pressure. "Had she never come, had there remained any sign of life, I would have tried, even if I would have failed! I love you! I would never just let you die without trying to help! I could never do that! Of course I don't feel pressured by your choice."

The Beast managed a weak smile.

"Now, we have to get you inside." Belle said. "Out here in the rain is no place for you to recover." She looked into the West Wing. It was dirty, dusty. The stench from the carcasses he'd once hunted and dragged in was overwhelming. Bugs were everywhere. "And neither, I'm sorry to say, is your room."

"Belle...there is no way I can get further than my room." The Beast said weakly. "It...will...have...to do."

"Oh but it's just asking for your wound to get infected...frankly it's in no condition for you to be when healthy. Wait! I have an idea." Belle turned to Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Mrs. Potts. "My father rode back with me. He dismounted before Philippe and I burst through the main doors. Perhaps Philippe is still inside...I tied him up in the entrance hall. I hope Papa came in as well. Please go find my father and ask him to lead Philippe up here. The halls and staircase are plenty wide enough. If we can get Philippe to carry him down, we can find a more suitable location for him to recuperate."

As the staff did as Belle asked, she turned back to the Beast.

"You just relax. Don't try to talk. Just lay here and rest. You'll need all your strength to get on Philippe." She sat beside him, cradling him in her arms and waiting.

The servants made their way to the entrance hall as quickly as they could. There was Philippe, tied near the door, and next to him was Maurice.

"Monsieur!" Lumiere was the first to speak. "Your daughter has requested that you bring the horse to her. We'll show you where. The master is badly hurt from the attack...he could die, but there seems to be a chance. But no way out on the balcony in the rain, and Belle doesn't deem his room suitable either. But there's no way he can go far of his own accord...she asks that you bring the horse up to help her move the master."

Maurice untied Philippe and began to lead him.

"Okay, lead the way." He paused, then said something, a little nervously. "By the way...my daughter tells me that your master has...changed, since the time I met him. If I may ask...is that true? Am I...safe here?"

"Oh it's true my dear." Mrs. Potts said. "You were blessed to have a daughter like Belle. Such a gentle soul. She brought about a huge change in the master. He really is very kind now, and I know what he did to you hurts him terribly. Belle seemed to reach him, to find the soul lurking within when no one else could."

And with that, they got on their way. Within a few minutes, they reached the West Wing balcony and Maurice brought him to a stop beside the Beast. Belle immediately stood up.

"Thank you, Papa. Now, I've thought, I think my room would be a good place for him to recover." She looked down at the three servants. "Would you mind getting some blankets and pillows and meeting us there? Perhaps a mattress, or another bed, if possible. If not, if you could just get enough blankets to make a nice little bed for him, and also to cover him, that would be good. And some hot water to wash out the wound, and bandages. Please?"

The objects set off to do as Belle requested. Belle knelt back down and spoke gently.

"Beast? I'm going to have to help you get on Philippe. We'll go slow and easy, okay?" She looked up to her father. "Papa, please hold Philippe steady."

With that, she took hold of the Beast's shoulders and brought him up to a sitting position. He grunted, groaned, and gasped at the pain that shot through him at this movement.

"I'm sorry." Belle whispered. "This next part won't be any easier, and will probably be worse." She got behind him, grabbing his arms from behind. It was then she saw the arrow wound on his right shoulder. While not as severe as the wound from the dagger, this would definitely made what she was going to ask him to do quite excruciating. "Oh. Oh dear. Your shoulder...it looks...it looks like he may have shot you with an arrow." The Beast nodded. Belle tried to think of how this could be remedied. Looking at the left shoulder, Belle found that fine. "Papa, could you take Philippe over to his left side? Stop so he can easily take Philippe's mane in his left paw. After Maurice did this, Belle continued. "Okay, Beast, reach up with your left paw and grab his mane. I did this so you wouldn't have to do this with your right paw and arm and put so much strain on that shoulder. Already getting you standing is going to be quite painful, I'm sure." Once the Beast did this, she continued. "Now, I'll help you. Just hold onto the mane, and lean on Philippe as you rise to steady you."

"Belle..." The Beast looked concerned. "That will pull on the hair of his mane."

"You won't hurt him." Belle reassured him. And with that, the Beast slowly began to rise to his feet. Grunting, growling, gasping, groaning. It hurt. It really, really hurt. Belle helped steady him, and when he was finally to his feet, Belle put his right forepaw on Philippe's mane, next to the left. She then took his left paw. "Okay, hold the mane with your right paw, but let go with your left. I'll place it." She placed his right paw so that the Beast held onto the front of Philippe's neck. Philippe began to spook, but Maurice managed to get him calmed down before the Beast lost his grip.

"Uh, Belle?" Maurice spoke up. "You're having him mount on Philippe's right side. This might be contributing to him spooking. Horses are generally only trained with left-sided mounts, and this is no doubt unusual for him. Not to mention...no offense sir...his rather unique passenger."

"I know." Belle said. "Please, just try to keep him as steady as you can. He had an arrow in his right shoulder. There's no way to get him up without pain, but to use his right arm for the standing part would have been more pain than is necessary, I'm afraid." The Beast was now on his rear paws, his forepaws in the positions Belle placed them, and his head resting on the back of Philippe's head. "Okay Beast, we need to get your left leg over. Your rear end will probably wind up sitting on his, rather than in the saddle. You can then lay your torso across the length of Philippe's back." With that, Belle helped him get his left leg over. More grunting, growling, groaning, and gasping ensued. The Beast tried not to roar from the pain. Once his left leg was over, Belle positioned him so that both hind feet were off the ground. "Okay, hold on. Keep your left paw around his neck and your right paw gripping his mane. Let me know if you feel you're going to fall off." She then went to the front and took the reins from Maurice. "I'll lead the way to my room. Papa, please walk beside Philippe's hip, and you, too, alert me if it seems he's going to fall off. I'm very worried about the staircase. There's another staircase going up to my room, too."

"He was quite nervous coming up the stairs." Maurice said, getting into position.

"I'm sure. It's just not a usual thing for a horse, is it?" Belle patted Philippe on the nose. "Now Philippe, I need you to stay calm. Remember how you helped get the Beast back to the castle after the wolf attack? You were such a good boy, and I need you to do it again. I know the stairs are scary for you, but we have to do this. Just stay calm, please."

Slowly, they made their way through the West Wing. Once to the staircase, Philippe began to spook, but Belle quickly got him under control. Very slowly, they made their way down the stairs. After what seemed like an eternity, they were walking straight again. Then the staircase to Belle's room, and it seemed like another eternity to get up that staircase. But finally, they made it into Belle's room.

The trio of servants had the requested items, and the coat rack had towels to dry the Beast off with. Gently, Belle helped the Beast to dismount Philippe, in much the same way she got him mounted, only in reverse. Once on his feet, and once he let go of Philippe, he fell to his knees with a groan. Belle aided him to lay down on the floor, then helped get his clothes off before starting to towel him dry.

"Any chance there are clean, dry clothes for him?" Belle looked to the servants.

"Well, his clothes are in the West Wing." Cogsworth said. "Since you didn't find that environment suitable, I'm not sure you'll find any clothes in there suitable."

"Probably not. Okay." Belle thought for a moment. "There seem to be enough blankets to keep him warm."

The coat rack offered to lead Philippe to the stable.

"Oh, I'll go with you." Maurice said. "You show the way, but I'll lead Philippe. He's nervous around stairs, and it can sometimes be tricky keeping him calm." So, the coat rack, Maurice, and Philippe headed out.

Now it was time to tend to the wounds. Belle soaked a cloth in hot water and rung it out.

"Beast, I know you've heard this before. But hold still...this might sting a little." The Beast braced himself as she held the cloth to his stab wound, gently cleaning it. She then did the same with the arrow wound. Once satisfied the wounds were clean, she bandaged both. "Okay, let's get you onto this pile of blankets. First we'll wrap you in this one." She took a large blanket, and, helping the Beast into a sitting position, she wrapped him with the blanket. Then she helped him to lay down on the pile of several blankets on the floor a few feet from her bed. She placed his head on the pillows brought with the blankets. Then she put two more blankets on top of him. "Are you comfortable?"

"Yes, well, considering." The Beast said. He was still in severe pain. "Um...Lumiere, when her father...gets back in...please show him to the room...next...next door...to this one."

"Oui, Master." Lumiere headed out the door, waiting for Maurice to return. The other servants excused themselves and followed, leaving Belle and the Beast alone.

"Mrs. Potts." Cogsworth said once they were outside the room. Stay right here, in case they need any help at all."

"Yes, I will do that." Mrs. Potts said.

Back in the room, Belle was kneeling next to the Beast, running her fingers through his mane.

"I won't leave you Beast. I know you're hurting and weak. Just hang in there okay? Try to get some sleep."

"Belle..." The exhausted Beast could only whisper. "Thank you. I love you." And with that, he fell into a deep sleep, with Belle remaining at his side.